Practicing Resupply Makes For Perfect Drops

Often times, when Marines train in the field for an extended period of time, supplies run short. In order for training schedules or operations to be carried out as planned, air delivery of goods is essential to replenish units.

On a recent training operation in the Philippine Interoperability Exchange exercise here, Marines of 3rd Air Delivery Platoon practiced delivering boxes of Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) into an open field, preparing for a real world situation.

"Air delivery is practiced a lot so when it comes to the real deal, we do it right every time and we have a good feel for the operation," said Lance Cpl. Chris M. Kadolph, parachute rigger, 3rd Air Delivery, Landing Support Company, Transportation Support Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group.

Just like getting ready for a big game, training hard is the key element to success when the rubber hits the road, said Kadolph.

"We train the way we would perform in a real world operation so we don't have to think about it when it really happens. It will just be a natural action to go out there and deliver," said Cpl. Shawn E. Rabel, crew chief, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-463, Marine Aircraft Group-12.

Drop Or Drop-In

Airlift delivery is accomplished by two basic modes, air-land or aerial delivery. Air-land is the most frequently used delivery method and encompasses all situations where personnel and cargo are on-loaded and off-loaded, while the aircraft is on the ground.

Aerial delivery includes all methods of delivering personnel, equipment, and supplies from an airborne aircraft.

"We can drop anything small enough that can fit into the helicopter, but our goal is to be able to support small Reconnaissance units," said Staff Sgt. Jason E. Cornelison, platoon sergeant, 3rd Air Delivery, Transportation Support Bn., 3rd Force Service Support Group.

"This (training operation) we dropped two bundles of four boxes of MREs to a field for practice," Cornelison said.

Look Out Below

After the air delivery operation, Cornelison and a group of Marines from 3rd Air Delivery Platoon jumped from the helicopter, practicing their own landing skills, in addition to the MRE drop.

"Overall, the drop went well and landed in the targeted area. I have no doubt in my mind that we could do this in a real world situation," Cornelison said.

American soldiers are participating in joint training exercises with Philippines troops who are fighting a fierce war against guerillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Approximately 300 soldiers are deployed in the southern Philippines. Officials in that southern Pacific country expect more American troops to be deployed - some, perhaps to fight in combat for the first time there - sometime later this Spring.

FMI: www.pacom.mil